Nicholas Tarling Aria Competition

13/06/2024

Great to hear the winner of the 2024 Nicholas Tarling Aria Competition give an interview on RNZ last week. Hear Sarah perform this weekend with the Manukau Symphony Orchestra on Sunday 16 June, 5.00pm, at the Due Drop Events Centre Manukau.

Winner of this year's Nicholas Tarling Aria Competition, Sarah Mileham will be performing in Manukau Symphony Orchestra's next concert as part of her prize.

12/02/2024

What an extraordinary evening it was! 🎵✨
Congratulations to all our phenomenal finalists who performed at the Nicholas Tarling Aria Competition 2024. A special shoutout to the Winner Sarah Mileham, the Runner-up Alfred Fonoti-Fuimaono, the Most Promising singers Breony Bearman and Ridge Ponini, and the 18&Under Winner Venessa Joyce. 🏆🎉
Photos from the event attached!

09/02/2024

🎉🌟 Big Wins for Our Alumni and class of 2024 🌟🎉

We're soo proud to announce that our talented alumna, Sarah Mileham, has won the prestigious first place in the Nicholas Tarling Aria Competition! 🏆🎶

But wait, there's more to celebrate! 🥳 Our alumni continue to shine bright ✨Alfred Fonoti-Fuimaono in second place, & Ridge Ponini and Breony Bearman - Soprano in third place. 🎉

Aotearoa NZ Opera School 2024 has just ended and these talented alumni are already progressing and winning hearts with their extraordinary talent and dedication. 🌊💖

Congratulations to Sarah, Alfred, Ridge, Breony, and all our incredibly hard working alumni! 🎊

08/02/2024

Rehearsals are underway for tomorrow's Nicholas Tarling Aria Competition Final Round! Join us tomorrow at Due Drop Events Centre at 7.00pm for the 18 & Under Competition and 7.30pm for the Over 18s Competition and watch some of Aotearoa's finest singers compete for total prize money of $10,000. Free entry, free parking, and no need to get a ticket in advance! Judging by today's rehearsals, it's going to be an incredible evening for all! Symphony Orchestra

04/02/2024

Our second judge for the Nicholas Tarling Aria Competition 2024 is Patricia Wright. Patricia has performed regularly in opera, orchestral concerts, festivals, recitals and CD recordings. She is one of New Zealand’s best known and versatile sopranos.

She studied under New Zealand’s iconic Dame Sister Mary Leo and Australia’s famous Dame Joan Hammond and now is a revered tutor in her own right.

Patricia gained recognition singing at the major venues in London and throughout the UK. She recorded for the BBC in both live performances and recording studios. She was placed second in the prestigious Benson and Hedges Gold Award for singers and represented NZ in the Cardiff Singer of the World competition. Returning to NZ in 1993, she continued to sing major opera roles, guest artist concert appearances with leading orchestras, oratorio and recital concerts both at home and internationally.

After teaching singing at the University of Auckland for eight years, Patricia continues to impart her passion, performing skills and experience to students and now spends a large part of her career as a vocal coach/tutor and continues to be a national singing competition adjudicator whilst still performing.

Her most recent performance was the role of Mrs Grose in NZ Opera’s production of The Turn of the Screw.

Join us for a wonderful evening of entertainment at the Due Drop Events Centre this Friday at 7.00pm. Free entry, free parking, and no need to book a ticket in advance!

31/01/2024

Our first judge for the Nicholas Tarling Aria Competition 2024 is Uwe Grodd. Uwe has been the Music Director of the Manukau Symphony Orchestra since its beginning in 1993. Grodd’s contributions to classical music have brought him considerable international acclaim and he has served as adjudicator for many competitions in New Zealand and in Europe.

In 1997 he joined Naxos Records as an Exclusive Artist and to date, he has made world premiere recordings of more than 100 works. Grodd initially gained worldwide attention when awarded First Prize at the Cannes Classical Awards 2000 for Best 18th Century Orchestral Recording with Hungary’s Nicolaus Esterházy Sinfonia.

Performance highlights include eight concerts with the Mexico City Philharmonic and sell-out seasons of Handel’s rediscovered opera Imeneo in the Halle Opera house, when he was awarded the Badge of Honour for his services to the Handel Festival and the City of Halle, Handel’s birthplace. Grodd is equally committed to the music of his own time, commissioning more than 50 works from New Zealand composers.

Uwe Grodd is Artistic Director of Auckland Choral. He is Professor Emeritus of the University of Auckland and is Post Graduate Supervisor in Music at the Canterbury University.

Join us on Friday 9 February, 7.00pm at the Due Drop Events Centre Manukau for a spectacular evening of entertainment. Entry is free, parking is free and no tickets are required!

30/01/2024

26/01/2024

Introducing our official accompanist! Rosemary Barnes studied at the Royal Academy of Music, London, with Franz Reizenstein and Lamar Crowson. She was on the music staff of the English National Opera between 1980–88 and undertook extensive freelance work with Glyndebourne Touring Opera, BBC television, Musica nel Chiostro, and Opera Northern Ireland.
In New Zealand, Rosemary led the Postgraduate Opera Diploma at the University of Auckland from 1993–99. She currently coaches Emerging Artists for NZ Opera and has been the official accompanist at the Gisborne International Music Competition since 1994. Performances include concerts with the Trio Australasia, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Lesley Garrett, and Sir Donald McIntyre. Rosemary was made a Member of the NZ Oder of Merit for services to music in the 2000 Queen’s Birthday Honours.
Join us at Due Drop Events Centre Manukau at 7.00pm on Friday 9 February and watch four junior entrants and twelve senior entrants perform in the Final Round of the Nicholas Tarling Aria Competition 2024. Entry is free and tickets are not required – simply turn up and enjoy a fine evening of entertainment!

17/12/2023

We are excited to announce that the following singers have advanced to the Final Round:

In the 18 & Under category:
Mason Lin
Saara Desai
Amelia Blessan
Venessa Joyce
Sofia Gong

In the Over 18 category:
Taylor Wallbank
Rhiannon Cooper
Alfred Fuimaono
Tayla Alexander
Thomas Røshol
Jasmine Jessen
Emma Jones
Breony Bearman
Sarah Mileham
Ridge Ponini
Jess Webber
Samuel McKeever
Olga Shanina

Heartfelt congratulations to all our finalists! With a total of 70 applications, the Digital Round showcased an exceptionally high standard across the board.

28/11/2023

Attention all singers! Only 2 days to go until entries for the Nicholas Tarling Aria Competition 2024 close. Prize money up to $5,000 available. All you need to apply is a short video of yourself singing (can be accompanied or unaccompanied, and can be a pre-existing video)! Go to www.tarlingaria.org.nz to find out more and apply!

24/11/2023

One more week to go until the closing date for entries to the Nicholas Tarling Aria Competition 2024. Prizes of up to $5,000 available! The video submission can be accompanied or unaccompanied, and it can even be an existing video of yourself singing. Visit www.tarlingaria.org,nz for more information and to apply. Applications close at 23.59 on 30th November.

16/11/2023

Attention all singers! The countdown is on – only 2 weeks left until entries close for the Nicholas Tarling Aria Competition 2024.

Whether you’re a seasoned performer or just embarking on your musical journey, this is you chance to shine in the Digital Round.
Record a video of yourself singing (can be accompanied or unaccompanied), upload it to YouTube, and ensure you’ve submitted a completed application form by the closing date on 30 November 2023. Entry form is available here: https://tarlingaria.org.nz/enter-now/

With a first prize of $5,000, a runner-up prize of $3,000, and special categories recognising the “Most Promising” and “18 & Under” talents, this really is a chance for every voice to be heard! And that’s not all – the opportunity to perform alongside the Manukau Symphony Orchestra awaits the winner!

Don’t miss out on the extraordinary chance to showcase your talent and elevate your musicianship. Visit www.tarlingaria.org.nz to discover more about the competition and become part of this incredible experience!

26/10/2023

The Nicholas Tarling Aria Competition 2024 is open for entries! Whether you’re an experienced vocalist or just starting out on your musical journey, we invite you to showcase your talent in the Digital Round. Record a video of yourself singing, upload it to YouTube, and complete an application form by 30 November 2023.

With a first prize of $5,000, a second prize of $3,000, and special categories for “most promising” and “18 and under”, plus a chance to perform on stage with the Manukau Symphony Orchestra, this is an opportunity not to be missed. Visit www.tarlingaria.org.nz to learn more!

25/09/2023

It’s launch day! The Nicholas Tarling Aria Competition 2024 is now open for entries. We warmly welcome all talented vocalists, irrespective of age, background, or experience, to participate in the Digital Round. Simply record a video of yourself singing, upload it onto YouTube, and complete an application form by 30th November 2023.

There is a first prize of $5,000, a second prize of $3,000 available, as well as a "most promising" and "18 and under category", including an opportunity to sing an aria in concert with the Manukau Symphony Orchestra.

Visit our website www.tarlingaria.org.nz to learn more about the competition and the straightforward application process. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to pursue your passion for singing and achieve recognition on the stage!

04/09/2023

Do you sing in the shower? Are you a regular at your local church’s choir? Or perhaps you’re already an accomplished singer on the stage? Here’s your chance to shine – step up, participate, and immerse yourself in the joy of singing at the 2024 Nicholas Tarling Aria Competition.

Auckland is brimming with talented singers, and this competition is your chance to step onto the stage and share your gift with the world. Musicians of all ages and backgrounds are invited to participate in the digital round.

First Prize – $5,000
Runner-up Prize – $3,000
Most Promising Singer Prize – $1,000
18 Years and Under Prize – $1,000

Upload a video of yourself singing onto YouTube (can be a private or public channel) and submit a completed application form with the link of your recording. The entry form will be available from 25th September onwards.

The closing date for entries is 30th November 2023.